Chapter 138: Mightiest Ancestor vs Mightiest Mortal
Rhiannon glared down at the white armored figure below; behind her, Ezerald and Beatrice tensed for action, but a simple gesture of her hand made them stop.
"The Ancestor of Chaos," Dante began, his deep voice effortlessly carried through the canyon. "Strongest of all Ancestors," With his face obscured, it was difficult to see, but judging from how his head slightly tilted to the side, it seemed he regarded Beatrice and Ezerald, "What use could working with them be to you?"
"I work with no one; I am merely where I want to be." Rhiannon corrected with a grin, "But I recognize your mana from Verdantis, here for revenge, eh?"
"Revenge interests me not." Dante declared, slightly pacing as he kept a hidden stare on them.
"Then what is your purpose here, Inheritor?" Ezerald demanded. "You must know that your unannounced presence here would be cause for concern to Vel'ryr, right?"
"The nation of Vel'ryr is of no consequence to me; should it get in my way, then I shall rid the world of the roots of the problem." He simply stated.
"Speak plainly or begone from here, less you die." Beatrice threatened. "I'm feeling particularly annoyed right now, so you'll be welcomed stress relief."
Dante gave a scoff at a threat he saw as empty: "The nature of you Fate Walkers is no secret to me."
"What?" Ezerald blurted out in confusion, "How could you possibly..."
"Long have you plagued the world in your desire to reclaim that which has long since passed." He started stopping his pacing.
"Hm, it seems you're well informed." Rhiannon noted with a raised brow.
"Ancestors, Fate Walkers, Dragons, and the Gods," Dante listed loud enough for them to hear, "The era of you few has long since passed, as such relics like you must be expunged." Rhiannon smirked at that as she raised her right hand, in a dazzling display of gold sparks Radiant Dior formed in her hand. Leaping into the air with such force that the ground beneath her formed a crater, she shot in the air before gravity quickly took hold, and then with mighty force she crashed into the ground below, some few meters away from Dante.
"Those are big words, boy." She announced, pointing the tip of Radiant Dior at the mightiest of Inheritors. "Are you strong enough to back them up?"
Dante gave a grunt as he flexed a hand, "You will plaque this world no longer; once I am finished with you, I shall be rid of the Fate Walkers. The new people of this realm have their own path to follow; it will not be interrupted by those of a bygone and forgotten era."
"Then by all means..." Rhiannon grinned as a radiant and large golden aura engulfed her form, enhancing her being. "Do give it your all."
"Your annoyance is at an end, Ancestor." Slowly, they walked to one another. "This is an era that will be freed of the past, an era that will decide its own future."
And then, in a synchronized moment, both Dante and Rhiannon sprung into action, launching themselves towards each other with overwhelming force. In that moment, the ground beneath them quaked as the air ignited with a deafening sound, shattering the silence as shockwaves radiated outward, rattling boulders and mountains along the desolated terrain. Dante's heavy sabatons thundered against the cracked earth as his cape fluttered, while Rhiannon glided gracefully as if she were the wind, golden armor glinting. As their figures blurred into streaks of white and gold, tendrils of dust spiraled upward, forming small vortexes that moved around them as if the atmosphere was absorbed.
The world went still for the briefest moment, every creature, every sound, every grain of sand suspended in a breath as the two converged—a meeting of force. Dante's gauntlet cladded right arm met Rhiannon's arc of gold at an angle that seemed almost impossible—time and space momentarily warping around their contact point. The clash resulted in an explosion that sent shockwaves moving throughout the wasteland. The force echoed like a thunderclap, disruptive and powerful enough to fracture mountains and send clouds of dust spiraling upwards, casting a thick haze over the battlefield. Rhiannon, though, staggered slightly from the impact as Dante, bolstered on, pushed her back effortlessly—a grunt escaping her lips as she fought against the absurd force that enveloped her.
The ground beneath her faltered, crumbling and splintering like glass underfoot as the remnants of their clash rippled through the earth. Slowly, she found her footing again—her golden aura flickering, reacting quickly to reclaim her balance. Dante stood resolute as Rhiannon gathered her strength, sparks of mana crackled around her, illuminating her golden form in hues of sunlight. Ezerald and Beatrice, perched atop the cliffside, surveyed the encounter with an eerie stillness, watching intently.
With a fierce grin, Rhiannon's intense golden aura flared to life as she channeled the remnants of her momentum into a sweeping arc of Radiant Dior. The broadsword cut through the air with a resounding whoosh, gleaming like a meteorite descending towards Dante. However, he surged as he pivoted just in time, his white armor glinting against the blazing sun as he executed a fluid sidestep, escaping the edge of Rhiannon's blade. The strike missed him, colliding instead with the ground, sending a spray of grit and rubble into the atmosphere, the impact momentarily obscuring their battle in a haze of dirt and debris.
Dante clenched his gauntleted fists, a slew of punches flickering like rapid-fire aimed at a target that was as fierce as he. He aimed high with a quick jab, and Rhiannon gracefully evaded as she rotated her body, the dense air crackling around her with golden energy. Her blade radiated with an effulgent light, which she swung in an upward slash, meeting Dante's fist with a resounding clang, the sparks flying from their contact illuminating the barren wasteland like fireworks against a night sky.
The world around them shook under every punch and parry delivered. Dante weaved under Rhiannon's sword before lunging forward to deliver a punishing hook that resonated like thunder, creating intense shockwaves that rippled through the air. Each strike he delivered seemed to hum with absurd force, reverberating with indescribable strength, while Rhiannon—twirled away from a brutal punch aimed at her torso, the sheer speed of her movement causing the very ground to tremble beneath her feet.
Their movements began to mix in a series of measured clashes; it was a blur of speed and sparks. As Dante punched, Rhiannon would parry, directing the energy away from her though her muscles screamed at her as she did so, before riposting with her glowing blade, which sliced through the air with a whistle, missing Dante's shoulder. He stepped back, fluidly pivoting on his heel to avoid her relentless advances.
Every time Rhiannon found her footing, Dante's relentless strikes pushed her back—his defensive maneuvers accompanied by the signature shockwaves that erupted from the force of his blows. Rhiannon found herself disarmed by his aggression, the frustration flaring in her crimson eyes as she realized that each of her breakthroughs was met with an even more formidable burst of force from her challenger. She swung Radiant Dior horizontally, but Dante ducked low under the descending blade, rolling expertly to regain his base with a swift rebound that propelled him back into the fray.
With a grimace, Rhiannon feinted to her left, then abruptly reversed course, aiming to exploit the initial opening she'd presented. Yet Dante was already anticipating her foray, quickly thrusting his right armored fist forward—landing with a thunderous crack upon Rhiannon's midsection as her radiant aura flared in warning. The impact was incredible; a shockwave erupted from their collision, creating a massive crater beneath Dante's stance, scattering dust and debris like confetti across the battlefield. Rhiannon's gasp escaped in a muffled, breathless crescendo as she felt the full weight of his counterattack.
Before she could gather herself, Dante capitalized, pivoting sharply on his heel, his body turning with fluid grace as he unleashed a kick that connected forcefully with her stomach. The sound echoed like a singular explosion in the wasteland, a percussive boom that marked the moment Rhiannon was launched skyward. Time seemed to slow as sonic booms erupted as her body soared higher and higher, breaking through the atmospheric barrier with such sudden force that a maelstrom of pushed air followed her like a tail, mixing with the vibrant hues of red and gold that painted the earth below.
She ascended beyond the curvature of the planet, propelled into the expanse beyond—a new view unfolding before her eyes. Flung from the fury of their battle, she hovered amidst twinkling stars and distant galaxies, yet, as she regained her composure above the planet, her anger now ignited; it pooled within her golden aura, flooding through her being.
As the vast expanse of the universe fluttered around her, Rhiannon's frown deepened, casting a shadow over her radiant features against the view of twinkling stars. Below, the planet lay stretched before her, a distant jewel shimmering with the remnants of their battle. Her crimson eyes narrowed, scanning the horizon when suddenly, at the edge of her vision, she spotted a form rocketing towards her with blinding speed. It was him, a streak of brilliant white cutting through the picture of space like a comet racing as his cape trailed behind him.
Instinct took precedence over her thoughts. With a smile, she thrust her free left arm outward, summoning her ability as tears of vibrant crimson began to tear through the fabric of space itself, pulsating with a grotesque energy that echoed the depths of her will. Massive, gnarled hands suddenly emerged from the rifts, horrific in their design—abominable appendages characterized by grotesque markings that seemed to writhe.
In that moment, as Dante closed the distance, Rhiannon unleashed a torrent of chaos; spectral waves of red energy from the palms of the hands raced forth like snakes unleashed from their cage. Each pulse was tearing through the void with insane speed, leaving trails of light in their wake. They moved towards Dante with an unbridled ferocity, rippling through space, carving a path of saturated color that left the very air vibrating.
The waves of energy collided with Dante as he soared through the astral backdrop like a meteor. The impact was cataclysmic—an explosion erupted at the surface of the planet below, a devastating display of light and power that rivaled the sun itself; it was as if the very stars had blinked in shock and awe. Cosmic waves rippled across the surface, engulfing everything in their path as the heat and energy melted the landscape, sending shockwaves that could be felt for miles below. Bright flashes momentarily washed out the colors of existence, and a thunderous roar filled the realm.
But as the intense light began to dissipate like mist before dawn, something became apparent: Dante emerged, unscathed against the chaos that had attempted to kill him. His white armor still gleamed, reflecting the remnants of battle. The shock had propelled him hardly offline, his form unbothered.
Reinvigorated Dante's focus sharpened, an unseen mana flowing through him as a large circular glyph beneath his feet materialized instantaneously, crackling with luminescent energy that illuminated the darkness surrounding them; the runes etched into its surface pulsing as it became his platform.
With a powerful leap, he launched himself upwards, the glyph propelling him towards Rhiannon with the force of a storm—his body shooting like an arrow aimed directly at his target. Rhiannon, in her element, barely had time to react. She twisted away, narrowly evading his airborne strike, the sheer intensity of his momentum sending ripples through the fabric of space that seemed to warp around their new battleground.
As they moved in the expanse, darts of light igniting the void, more glyphs appeared like kites in the wind; they swirled into existence around Rhiannon, each one blossoming, amplifying Dante's ongoing assault.
Rhiannon weaved between the glyphs, expertly dodging Dante's relentless attempts to seize the offensive. His attacks were fast, each strike infused with an absurd force. Dante struck from various angles, each blow infused with the intent to disrupt Rhiannon's existence. She parried, twirled, and leaped, her movements executed with fluidity; the weight of Radiant Dior felt almost weightless in her hands as she engaged in this new annoyance and excitement.
With every thrust of her sword, she carved arcs of golden light through the shimmering glyphs, fragments of mana splintering off with cascades of sparks that lit the distance between them. Rhiannon centered herself, acutely aware of the momentum Dante was aiming to gain. She locked her gaze on him as he deftly navigated the multitude of glyphs, leaping from one luminescent platform to another at staggering speed. Each glyph shimmered in vibrant colors, resonating with energy that surged through the atmosphere, and as Dante propelled himself upward, he left behind a trail of afterimages that flickered like echoes across the starry skies. It was a sight to behold, as thousands upon thousands of translucent forms of Dante moved around Rhiannon, each attempting to mask his true position.
In this game of cat and mouse, Rhiannon steeled her annoyance. She felt the mana coursing through her—note a potent blend of rage and magic—as she focused her energy like a coiling strike. The air around her began to shimmer, veins of red pulsating with her burgeoning power as she unleashed the full magnitude of her mana. With a fierce grunt, she exerted her will, creating a cataclysmic explosion of mana that detonated violently, illuminating the darkness with a sea of crimson light that resonated through the fabric of the environment.
Yet, as the explosion roared outward in a dazzling burst of destructive force, Dante was already soaring high above her, his form a blur against the darkness. The shockwave from Rhiannon's attack rippled through space, but he remained unscathed, expertly dodging the chaos swirling around him. He angled downward, preparing to close the distance again, his body poised like a jagged spear.
Rhiannon summoned her ability once more. Two enormous, planet-sized red tears shredded their way through the cosmos, cutting through space as they materialized beside her. Their grotesque forms emerged—distorted, malformed hands erupting from the rifts, monstrous appendages bathed in vibrant, seething crimson. They were imposing, each palm wide enough to encompass entire star systems as they hovered ominously, pulsating with raw power.
With a guttural snarl that echoed in the emptiness of space, the hands launched forth torrents of intense red energy, waves of destruction that surged towards Dante with the weight of countless suns. The energy cascaded outward, dissolving stars into shimmering dust, leaving nothing but voids in their wake. It was cataclysmic—a cosmic tsunami of Leviathan-like force aimed to annihilate its target.
Yet Dante, poised above the chaos, met the challenge head-on. Drawing upon his strength, the very essence of his power, he thrust his gauntled fist forward with primal force. The impact of his motion was staggering, creating such an immense shockwave that it cleaved through the incoming tide of Rhiannon's energy. It pushed back fiercely, forming a colossal barrier that repelled the destructive wave with a blinding flash of light, the two forces colliding head-on, crafting a psychedelic swirl of crimson and silver against the black of space.
The shockwave surged outward like a supernova, sending both Rhiannon's monstrous hands reeling backward as if caught in an unseen and raw force channeling through the void like a rapidly expanding balloon. Rhiannon watched intently as both halves of her construct were severed from their original intent, flailing wildly in the vacuum, each ripple from the impact scattering waves of energy that resonated like thunder, marking the space landscape with their reverberating aftermath.
As the shockwave from Dante's punch vibrated through the fabric of space, the grotesque hands Rhiannon summoned began to dissipate, their energy swirling and collapsing into nothingness. Rhiannon, grinned, focused on the space in front of her, the void that seemed to pulse. Fueled by a torrent of thrills, she propelled herself toward Dante, her figure a streak of gold against the galaxy.
She launched forward with intense speed, and in an instant, she was upon him, their forms colliding with earth-shattering force. A brilliant explosion of radiant mana erupted as their bodies connected, a wave of pure force reverberating outward, shattering distant meteors into stardust and echoing across the theater. The universe trembled beneath the weight of their clash, celestial bodies dimming momentarily.
Dante, his feet planted firmly within the glyphs that glowed beneath him, absorbed the impact for but a moment. He pushed back, and the sheer force of his response sent Rhiannon spiraling backward through the void, her momentum carrying her far into the cosmos, the look of surprise briefly crossing her features before she steadied herself.
Fueled by excitement as well as no small amount of annoyance, Rhiannon focused, her fingers moving in the air as she summoned her mana once more. A concentrated sphere of power began to coalesce between her palms, intense red energy swirling within, a dark outline forming around the edges as shadows mixed; it pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat.
With a primal scream that echoed through the void, Rhiannon hurled the intense orb straight toward Dante. It shot through the abyss faster than the light itself, leaving a trail of scorched particles in its wake. The orb's trajectory was a meteor of chaos, aimed directly at its elusive target, the space crackling with the latent chaos it carried. The intensity of its approach warped the very space.
Yet Dante gauged the orb's trajectory; as the orb neared with terrifying speed, a fraction of a second became a lifetime of decisions as he merely shifted his weight, his form blurring as he sidestepped with uncanny speed.
The red orb howled past him, a streak of catastrophic potential hurtling into the distant void. With a booming rush, it struck a large, uninhabited planet lightyears away, the impact igniting a cataclysm of unimaginable proportions. The world blossomed like a dying star; a blinding flash engulfed it, a brilliant crimson explosion swallowing the planet whole. It disintegrated into a fine mist of debris, scattering throughout the cosmos like ashes from a funeral pyre, rendering its existence to mere memory lost among the stars.
"My, my," Rhiannon breathed out, now thoroughly annoyed. "You're persistent if anything, boy. But you're a mystery my clairvoyance can't seem to grasp."
"The future has no hold over me," Dante stated, hoisted upon his created glyph as he leisurely folded his arms. "Fate is something I carve on my own; my destiny is not set; I walk only the path I intend for myself. Lost in your misbegotten goals, can you say the same, Ancestor of Chaos?"
Rhiannon scoffed, "Misbegotten, what would you know? I aim to rectify that which has been tainted—this world, nay, this realm I judge as unworthy. Aethel will not last as a result; even if the minority sought to fight against the wretched circumstances that will plaque them, it will be all for naught." She declared with ferocity, "As such, if I do not find that which I seek, then I shall destroy this realm and build it anew."
"And who gave you that right, Ancestor?" Now it was Dante's turn to scoff. "You, the gods and the dragons. So quick to reign in authority on those you deem beneath you, you are no figures of respect or worship."
"My, my, you seemed to have quite the vendetta against us; why is that, I wonder?" Rhiannon wondered with a lopsided grin. "Are you from that age as well? Were any of us responsible for killing those dear to you? Is that why you hold such contempt?" She questioned mockingly, if Dante was affected by her words, he did not show it in any way.
"I was alone since my birth; I always was." He corrected.
"Oh? Then why get in my way if not for revenge then?"
"I have already stated my intent, Ancestor." Dante merely said, "Be they human's, elves, dwarfs, Solkari, or fairies. New denizens have taken this realm as their own; their future is not yet set. Yet still all of you would interfere with them, to set their fates astray and impose your will upon them. The people have their own stories that they must follow; as such, I will not abide by those long forgotten in the past to interfere in the present. Being rid of you will be but a part of the grand scheme of things; the remaining Divine Beast and the Gods will be next."
Rhiannon raised a brow in both surprise and apparent interest. "I see, it seems you're rather unbiased despite what you are. Hm, it seems your determination is no faux. Yet even so, can it measure up to mine?"
"Undoubtedly."